Meanings
19th century. First attested as lies, like chickens, come home to roost, although the slightly later curses, like chickens, come home to roost was more common. Both are often said to be Spanish or Turkish in origin. The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs notes that Geoffrey Chaucer wrote in The Parson's Tale: “And ofte tyme swich cursynge wrongfully retorneth agayn to hym that curseth, as a bryd that retorneth agayn to his owene nest.”[1]
How to pronounce "the chickens come home to roost":
AU
A person's past wrongdoings will return to negatively affect them.
Example: "Opponents see the latest indictments as a case of the chickens coming home to roost."
